Since 1910 the Rushville Public Library has served the residents of Rushville and Rush County. Although a city library, for years county residents also had access to the facility for an annual fee.
Originally housed in two rooms at the courthouse, through the efforts of many civic, private and public monies, the RPL became a fixture at its current location, 130 West Third Street in the 1920’s.
During the past 83 three years, the facility has realized numerous improvements, and is still in need of additional improvements. Citing technological advancements and size constraints, in recent years a number of proposals regarding the library have been discussed. Library board members and others considered relocating the library and purchasing acreage to build a new structure in recent years as constraints to expanding the existing facility where land locked. However the library gained additional property in 2006 when Carter Lanning donated property adjacent to the location.
Monday, RPL attorney Julie Newhouse and RPL Director Sue Otte requested the Rush County Commissioners approve a request to hold a public hearing on making the RPL a county library.
Following a brief discussion, the county leaders approved the request. A public hearing will be held beginning at 7 p.m. in the Assembly and commissioner room located on the lower level of the Rush County Courthouse.
According to Otte, the library serves as a means to improve the lives of local residents and as the community changes so do the needs of the library in meeting those needs.
“I feel that with a county library we can better help meet the needs of county patrons,” Otte said.
She continued by saying that the financial impact on county tax dollars will be small in comparison to monies used to support other needed budgets such as schools, city and county government.
“Currently we (RPL) budget is only roughly two percent of the city’s budget. I don’t see that as changing much with the county, for example Rush County Schools makes up roughly 35 percent of the budget,” Otte said.